The last weld of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) is completed, allowing transportation of oil from Prudhoe Bay in northern Alaska to the Valdez Marine Terminal in Prince William Sound. The 800 miles (1,300 km), 48 inches in diameter pipeline system began construction in April 1974 and it cost $8 billion to complete. It is one of the world's largest pipeline systems. The first oil flowed June 20, 1977. More
Trace of the Denali Fault after the 7.9 magnitude earthquake of 3 November 2002, Alaska, USA. View south along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System in the zone where it was engineered to cross the fault (the pipeline rests on sliders rather than rigid pillar supports). The fault trace passes beneath the pipeline between the 2nd and 3rd slider supports at the far end of the zone. A large arc in the pipe can be seen in the pipe on the right, due to shortening of the zigzag-shaped pipeline trace within the fault zone. It was snowing when the photo was taken.
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